Oil-shale retort



May 13 1924. 1,4938% J. B. JENSON OIL SHALE RETORT Filed July 18 1921 2Sheets-Sheet l 19- INVENTOR BYUQ 2. 21g.

ATTORNEY J.B.JENSON OIL SHALE RETORT May 13 1924}. 1,4938%?) Filed July18, 1921 2 sheets-She t 2 gpm mw ATTORNEY Patented May 13, 1924.

PATENT ,OFFlE.

JAMES B. JENSON, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

OIL-SHADE RETORT.

Application filed July 18, 1921. Serial No. 485,689.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs B. JENsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State ofUtah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil-ShaleRetorts, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to retorts for extracting the oil from oil-bearingshale and has for its object to provide two contiguous retorts which maybe operated together or singly, having one discharge fine, and otherwiseeconomically constructed as a unit. Also as many units may be adjacentlyconstructed as desired.

These objects and others which are set out hereafter I accomplish withthe apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similarletters and numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout theseveral views. and as described in the specification forming a part ofthis application and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings in which I have shown a substantial en'ibodiment of myinvention Figure l is a plan view of one of the outer rings. Figure 9.is an elevation with parts shown in section of two of said rings. Figure3 is a plan view of one of the inner rings. Figure 4; is an elevationwith parts shown in section of two of said inner rings. Figure 5 is aplan view of the base. or supporting ring for both sets of rings, whileFigure (3 is a diametric' section of said base ring. Figure 7 is a viewshowing one retort in elevation and the contiguous one in verticalsection, parts cut away.

ln the production of oil from oil-shalcs, particularly the high gradeshales of the American Continent. one of the. chief troubles in thecolumn or Scotch type retort is the fluxing of the shale in the lowerportion of the retort. This is caused by the volatiliztu tion of theheavy constituents or hydrocarbons in the lower portion of the retort;where the highest temperature exists, these heavy volatilesnissingupward through the column of shale and condensing. as they comeinto contact with the cooler shalcs' which are passing downwardtrout-the upper or cooler end of the retort. form on each particle ofshale a thick coating of the heavy oil and tar products. lVhen theseshalcs. now covered with the heavy oil, reaches the high temperatureZone. these heavy carbons are again volatilized together with the heavyhydrocarbons contained within the shale and again pass upward thuspassing through a cycle of volatilization, condensation,re-volatilization, re-condensation, etc., and inasmuch as each time thehydrocarbons are thus volatilized at high temperature, it leaves adeposit of solids, fixed carbon or coke upon the shale, it eventuallyformsn solid mass which chokes up the retort and compels discontinuanceof operations until the solid charge of shale can be removed from theretort. Thismay be prevented by treating only leaner shales or by mixingleaner shales with the higher grade shales until a proper charge is hadto prevent the excessive deposits ot the heavier hydrocarbons throughInasmuch as.

the above mentioned cycle. many of our American ledges contain depositsof high grade shale, the treatment of these afford a greater profit thanwhen operation is confined to the leaner shales and it is important thatfluxing be avoided so that these can be treated.

Another difliculty with the Scotch type or column retort is that inorder to heat the therefore. not only that the shales and gases be notoverheated but that also they be withdrawn from the retort as quickly aspossible after volatilization.

In the column retort as operated in Scottish practice it. is necessaryalso to charge the shale into the. retort in a coarse condition and freefrom all tines. in order that the gases may percolate freely upwardthrough the long column of shale. From the fact that. the coarser piecesthus charged are several inches in diameter, these require longer timefor treatment with heat than the smaller pieces which are probably notto exceed one inch in diameter. This action not only demands hightemperaturebut makes the passage of the charge through the retortnecessarily slow in order to volatilize the entire hydrocarbon contentof the coarser pieces.

Aside from'these serious objections to the use of the Scotch type retortin the retorting of our high grade American shales, the column retortcontains most excellent features for the production of ammonium sulphatemid it is doubtful if any device can be developed which will excel, on'a whole, the principles utilized in the lower portion or ammonia sulhate portion of the column retort and, therefore, thatif theabove-mentioned undesirable features are removed, the column retort canbe made to supply useful purposes in the development and production ofoil from our American shales.

I have constructed a retort which overcomes these difiiculties and whichat the same time retains all the desirable features in the production ofammonia by the,,column retort. I find that if I can economically heatthe non-condensable gasfor any other suitable medium for conducting orconveying heat to the shale andf'cause it to envelop each particle ofshale without permitting the shale to come into contact with the hotmetal surfaces. that/I overcome the difliculty of overheating/certainportions of the shale while other portions are underheated and that I amenabled to heat the entire surface of eachparticle of shale. regardlessof the size" or fineness to the same degree of temperature. Also that Iam able to sweep'the gasesvolatilized from the hydrocarbon portion ofthe shale, immediately out of the retort; thereby preventing the burningor sec dary decomposition of the gases. The fact that I am causing hotgases to circulate, through the shale and to come into contact Xvith allthe sides and surfaces of the shale produces more efficient heating andpreven s undue waste or loss of heat. To do th lsl/l aim to keep mycolumn of sha e thin, say romfour to twelve inches, which also permitsme to crush to a smaller and more 'iniform size ithout preventing thepercolating or travel of the gases through the slia le thereby effectinga more complete volatilization of the hydrocarbon with less heat d inless time than where the large diameter column of shale containing alarge pro'portion of coarse pieces must be penetratefl and volatilized.

I propose to use the non-condensable fixed gases from a previousoperation of the retor after condensation and scrubbing. by

pa sing them through the retort which is so dezigned that they shallform a gaseous wall b tween the portion of the retort which is in 0ntact with the exterior heat and the porton of the retort which is incontact with t; e shale. thereby preventing the shale from coming intocontact with the heated portion of the retort. The non-condensablegases,

therefore, as they are passed into this portion of the retort, absorbthe heat tilitzi from the heated portion o aul pass in a heatedcondition through the shale, thereby heating the shale and carrying awaywith them the vapors and gases of volatilization. To provide for theirimmediate withdrawal I form a column of smaller diameter than the retortto pass through the central portion of the retort and to form a wall ofshale within the retort so arranged that I may withdraw the gases ofvolatilization and th d gases, which are there as a heating edium,quickly through the shale fro; ie retorting zones and convey them to tecondenser system, either through one gr more exhaust pipes or conduits.-I thereby\make one or more fractions or /'grades of oil by oneoperation. IVhileI am showing aretoit of circular cross section I do notconfine myself to this form and the retort may be builtcircular, oblong,square or of any desired shape. The fixed gases which are thuschargedinto the walls of the-retort in addition to sup-- plying the purpose ofa heating medium for the shales, are made to serve the additionalpurpose of yielding hydrogen to combine with that portion of thecarbonthat is being yolatilized from the shale. c'oal;- peat or otherhydrocarbon material being treated.- which is unable to secure thenecessary v l'iyd rogeu from the shale to form a saturated oil product,I am thus able to efiect an increased degree of saturation in theoilproducts and also to increase the oil yield by the addition ofhydrogen to the carbonf molecule which has not been able to secureenough hydrogen from the shale itself.

My retort consists ofga vertical cast iron shell A set in and supportedby masonry It provided with suitable traveling grates oil orgas burner Dfor heating and a fire box M for using coal or coke, and two. sets orseries of cast iron frusto-conical rings E and F.

} Each of the said rings F has radially extended lugs 10 on which issupported the other respective .rings making up the colurnn, and 'bygiving said rings a tapered or conical shape. the spaces 2 are providedfor the ingress of heat gases and to prevent the egress of the shalewhich is passing downwardly within the column formed by all of saidrings F.,-" A base ring K is set on the masonry and supports each columnof rings and is hollow or annularly recessed. as at 18. and with gasports 11 opening from said hollowed interior 18 to said space 1 betweensaid shell A and said rings F. A diametrically disposed conduit 12 isformed in said base ring with an upwardly discharging axial port 13. andin one end of said conduit 12 is screwed the suction pipe 14, to withdraw the volatilized oil contents of the shale Inn from the hotterzones. Each of said rings 1) has radially and inwardly extended lugs orbosses 15 which rest on the next lower of said rings E. Some of saidrings E have outwardly extending lugs 16, with holes there through andinwhich the rods 9 are passed to take out said rings E for repairs asdesired. The pipe 4 is provided and connected with the upper end of theinner column 3 by which the volatilized oil of the cooler heat zones iswithdrawn. The line of travel of the shale through the retort is shownby the arrows'b, the line of travel of the condensable gases, orvolatilized oil from the shale is shown by the arrows a, while the lineof travel of the heat units is shown by the arrows 0. Heat from the oilor gas burners D is conducted through the spiral heat chambers 19 to thevolatilizing heat space 7 which surrounds the said shell A, and in whichthe said heat currents or units are shown by the arrows c.

The series of said rings F is set inside and in contact with the shell Aby radial lugs 10, allowing a space 1 between, of aninch or two, andbeing for the ingress of non-condensable heating gases; the other seriesof rings E of smaller diameter is set centrally and concentricallywithin the shell for the egress of condensable and non-condensablegases. v

As stated above, each time the heavy condensed oil is volatilized itleaves a solid carbon product and at the same time makes a light oil.This free or'solid carbon attaches itself to the inner metal portion ofthe retort and it becomes necessary occasionally trrrempve it from andto clean the metal portion. Tod' acilitate this I use two sets or seriesof rings Eirndihaving different diameters at their top antkbottom andforming rings with sloping walls\of frusto-conical shape and with "aspace tween each ring to enable the gases to pass between the rings ofeach series and through the shale and at the same time to prevent theshale from passing between the rings on its downward course within theretort, and to confine the shale within the space formed between the twoseries of rings.\

Also in order to prevent the shale frdm lodging or hanging within thisspace, between the two series of rings and thereby clogging or chokingup the retort, T increase the space between the two walls or series ofrings by gradually reducing the diameter of each ring in the innerseries from the top of the retort downward, a1- lowing the outerseriesof rings to be uniform; as shown indrawing or I may graduallyincrease the diameter of the outer series of rings from the top downwardin the retort and make the inner series. of rings uniform. Thisincreases the-thickness of the wall or column of shale downward andpermits it to spread, thereby preventing its clogging or choking in theretort.

The outer rings forming the ingress column are cast with their outerdiameter somewhat less, say an inch or two than the inside diameter ofthe shell of the retort. This is to provide the free space 1 in whichthe non-condensable gases may travel and during which time they arebroughtinto contact with the outer or hot wall A of the retort which isexternally heated and from which the gases absorb the heat beforepassing between the ingress rings F, transversely through the wall oftween the egress rings the exhaust conduit or space 31 from which theyare withdrawn to the condensers. The inner or egress conduit 3 may beconnected with a single exhaust pipe 4 or it may be divided into anynumber of compartments.

E into and through two, three or more from which the volati- ,lizedgases of the shale are produced at diti'erent temperatures in the retortmay be withdrawn separately to produce oils or fractions of differentgravities or boiling points. The non-condensable or heating gases may bedriven through the retort under pressure or be drawn through the retortby means of vacuum. The heating gases are made to enter at the lower orhottest portion of the retort through opening 20 and ports 11 and tofind their way upward to the top of the retort, portions of this gasafter heat-ingpassingbetween. all the ingress rings through the spaces2; versely through the shale and then outward between the egress rings,through the spaces 5. The natural tendency for the greater portion ofthe gas to pass out of the heating space through spaces between thelowermost ingress rings is offset by the more compressed condition ofthe shale as the bottom issapproached. The shale is thus uniformlyheatedincthe zones of varying temperatures from the cooler at the top,to the hotter at the bottom without possibility of any condensationtaking place on the shale, thereby preventing fiuxing.

The outer shell Afof the retort is shown castiin section with aprojecting rib 6 at one end on each section, whose purpose it is toarrest the'gases otcombustion on their up per course of, travel and todeflectthem against the sides of the retort, thereby forming zones ofvarying heat and also utilizing as fully as possible the heat from thefuel which is applied under the retort or in any suitable manner fromthe side. The outer shell A is set in and supported by masonry B,permitting a space asshown at 7. around the retort and between it andsaid mason work B and is connected at the upper portion of the retortwith a suitable flue or chimney G'to conduct away the gases ofcombustion. The crushed shale is charged shale and then bc-v trans- Y orother desirable form of conveyor.

into a hopper H at the upper end of the retort, with sloping sides and aclosed cover. The shale may be dumped directly into the hopper from dumpbottom or hopper cars or it may be carried to the hopper by a helicalThat portion'of the retort below the cast iron shell A and metal rings Eand F is constructed of brick, tire. clay or any suitable material whichis adaptable for use when high temperatures are desired. It has agradually increasing diameter downward to facilitate the free travel ofthe shale in its downward course and is provided at the bottom with amovable gate 8 which carries or supports the shale column and to whichis given a for 'ard and backward movement by an excentric or otheroscillating device for the purpose of gradually removing a portion ofthe spent shale and to provide a continuous downward travel of the shalecolumn. IVithin this chamber or portion of the retort I introduce steamthrough the pipes 17 in a similar manner to that employed in Scotlandfor the purpose of producing ammonia and additional combustible gasesfrom the fixed carbon or coke attached to and contained within the spentshale. In the fire brick portion of the retort, therefore, the usualhigh temperature, say up to and including 1300 F. is employed while inthe upper or metal portion of the retort the temperature ranges between200 and 1000 F.

It will be noted that the series of rings E are fastened together by therods 9 and are remo mble for cleaning or repairs, it being necessaryonly to withdraw the series or column through the upper portion of theretort by means of a chain block or other convcnient method. Althoughthe shell of the retort is here shown in sections, the same may be castintegral or in one piece when so desired. The purpose of casting insections being to facilitate and economize in repairs and forconvenience in transportation. It is proposed to use the non-condensablegases for fuel although coal, gas, oil or any other kind of fuel may beused. The

' shale should be crushed at least to a size to through the retort byconfining it within the rings F and allowing it to fall onto, and bedischarged from the retort by, the reciprocating gate 8. Heat ofnon-condensable gases is supplied at the lower end of the retort to theshell A and radiating therefrom to heat the space or chamber between thesaid shell A and the column F, and pass through the spaces 2 between thedifferent rings F and after volatilizing the oil contents of the shaleto pass as condensable gases between the said rings E and into theegress column 3. This column or egress opening may be divided into twoor more compart ments as desired and the said condensable gaseswithdrawn through the pipes ei and 14 to produce different fractions.

I thus provide a new and novel retort having new means for conductingthe non-condensable gases to and surrounding a new and novel shellwithin which shell the moving shale is subjected to volatilization fromsaid heat, while it is passing by gravity and spaced from the interiorof said heat shell but is passing through a new and novel colulnn withopenings through which the heat units may pass and through and surroundthe individual shale particles. Also a new and novel exit or egresscolumn within and surrounded by the shale under treatment, with newmeans for withdrawing the condensable gases from heated zones ofditferent temperatures to produce different fractions and to provide acontinuous method of extracting and producing oil from shale.

Having described my invention and its operation I desire to secure byLetters Patwt and claim A retort for treating oil shale comprising avertical cast iron shell having outwardly projecting flanges andsurrounded with a heat chamber: a vertical column made up of a pluralityof spaced apart inverted frustoconical rings concentrically mountedwithin and spaced from said shell: :1 downwardly tapering egress columnmade up of a plurality of spaced apart frusto-conically shaped rings; abase ring having an annular recess therein with ports leading therefromwithout said first mentioned column and with the interior of said basering opening to the interior of said column: an axial poi tion of saidring opening to the interior of said egress column by means of which gasmay be withdrawn from said egress column.

In testimony whereof I have attixed my signature.

JAMES B. .mnson.

